It’s not just a league winning goalkeeper Conor O’Malley is attempting to keep out of the St Pat’s side – it’s his Collingwood Cup-winning manager.

O’Malley, 20, has enjoyed a meteoric rise since joining the Saints from tonight’s opponents Shamrock Rovers in November.

The Westport man, who played for Rovers’ short-lived First Division side last season, could have stayed at the Hoops.

But he chose to be Brendan Clarke’s understudy in Inchicore rather than third choice behind Barry Murphy and Craig Hyland in Tallaght and if he plays tonight it will be his eight successive game between the posts.

Clarke suffered an ankle injury in mid-March and that opened the door for O’Malley, whose Collingwood Cup-winning Maynooth College side last year was managed by Clarke and Saints full-back Ger O’Brien – and also featured centre-back Sean Hoare.

Brendan Clarke

“It only helps me that Brendan is there,” said O’Malley. “But anyway I think there is such a thing as a goalkeeper’s union.

“There’s a bit of a bond there, we all look out for each other.

“Even when he’s been on the bench he’s been encouraging me during games and at half-time.”

O’Malley faces a hectic period as he attempts to stay in the Saints’ side and prepare for five college exams as he finishes the second of a three-year pure Maths degree and hopes to become an actuary or to work in banking.

But he’s also ambitious about his football. It’s why he chose to move to Richmond Park and why he had set himself a target of playing in 10 games this season.